Improvement in locomotives



T. B. SMITH.

Locomotives.

54 2 9 Patented AUg.18,i'87 4.

L V/gmuessss.

1: M Y p J monms.

THE GRAPHIC CU- PHOTD-Ll'-'H.39&+l PARK PLACEIVLI UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BENTON SMITH, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

IMPROVEMENT m LOCOMOTIVES.

specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,289, dated August 18, 1874; application filed June 20, 1874.

sponding parts.

My invention has for its object to prevent the drive-wheels of a locomotive from slipping upon the rails by using the weight of the train being drawn to give a downward pressure upon the drive-wheels, causing them to hug the rails, thus increasing the tractionpower of the locomotive, and enabling it to draw a train of cars up a steeper grade than would otherwise be possible.

The invention consists in the combination of the pivoted bars, the cross-bar, the drawbar, the upright bars, the upper cross-bar, the piston-rod and piston, the steam-cylinder, and the three-way cock with a locomotive, as hereinafter fully described.

A represents a locomotive, and B a tender, which are constructed and coupled together in the ordinary way. 0 are two bars, the forward ends of which are pivoted to the opposite sides of the forward end of the locomotive A, and to the rear ends of which are pivoted the-,forward ends of the two bars D. The rear ends of the bars D, between the 10- comotive A andteuder B, are connected by a the train. In the forward end of the draw- "bar E is formed a slot, 0, to receive the crossbar F and give the necessary play to the coupling. To the bars 0 D, at their points of meeting, are pivoted the lower ends of two engineer turns the three-way cock L and admits steam into the cylinder K, which forces the piston J upward, drawing the bars 0 D upward into the angular position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. With this arrangement the weight of the train tends to draw the bars OD downward intoa horizontal position, which throws the weight of the train upon the drive-Wheels of the locomotive, causing them to hug the rails, and thus greatly increase the traction-power of the locomotive.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the pivoted bars 0 D, the crossbar F, the draw-bar E, the upright bars G, the cross-bar H, the piston-rod and piston I J, the steam-cylinder K and the three-way cock L with a locomotive, A, sub- THOMAS BENTON SMITH.

Witnesses:

JNo. 0. BROWN,

SPENCER EAKIN. 

